The outgoing Democratic leader of the state Senate, Donald E. Williams Jr. has been hired by the state's largest teachers union.

Williams, who has served for 10 years as the Senate president pro tempore and has been a strong supporter of teachers' unions, has been hired by the Connecticut Education Association as deputy director of professional policy, practice, research and reform.

"This is a challenging time for public education," Williams said. "Well-funded national 'reform' movements seek to privatize public schools and undermine teacher unions. There is much work to be done to expand educational opportunities for students, support the teaching profession, and help our schools. I look forward to assisting the CEA with this critical responsibility."

Sheila Cohen, president of the CEA said that with 22 years of legislative policy experience in the state Senate, "Don's skills and commitment are a perfect match for what CEA needs during this time of extraordinary challenges in public education."

CEA Executive Director Mark Waxenberg said that as a policy-maker, Williams "repeatedly sought the input of teachers and worked extraordinarily well with them."

Williams played a major role in hammering out controversial education reform legislation in 2012 that would be acceptable to Governor Dannel P. Malloy, but would also address teachers' concerns.

Earlier this year, Williams was one of three finalists for the presidency of Quinebaug Valley Community College, but he didn't get the job.

No lobbying for one year

For his first year with the CEA, Williams will have to abide by state statutes that say a former legislator cannot engage in the profession of lobbyist until one year after the expiration of his term.

While Williams has not been hired as a lobbyist for the CEA, Carol Carson, executive director of the Office of State Ethics, said the law requires for one year after his departure from the General Assembly in early January that Williams not "communicate directly or solicit others to communicate" with public officials, legislators, or state employess "in order to influence government action or legislation."

"That doesn't mean that he is banished from the Capitol or from the Legislative office Building," Carson said.

"Clearly if you work someplace for a long period of time, you develop friendships. People often go back to have lunch or to visit with a friend," she said. As long as those conversations are about personal matters, rather than substantive issues related to government actions, Carson said, those interactions are okay.

But the statute would allow Williams to testify before a legislative committee as long as he is not receiving compensation or reimbursement for lobbying. If after testifying, he sees friends or colleagues, he can engage in social interaction, Carson said, but he must abstain from substantive discussions outside of the formal committee testimony.

CEA seeks guidance on the issue

Peter J. Lewandowski, Assistant General Counsel with the Office of State Ethics, outlined these first year restrictions in a Nov. 17 letter to Vincent Loffredo, the CEA's director of government and political relations,who had sought guidance on the issue.

Lewandowski wrote, "a former legislator can provide in-house advice without triggering lobbyist registration concerns, provided his or her identity is not used to affect legislative or administrative action."

"For example, if a former legislator drafts a policy memo for internal use at CEA," the letter continued, " his or her identity as the author of the memo should not be revealed if the substance of the memo is circulated at the General Assembly or executive branch agencies to affect governmental decision-making."

As Carson explained it: "Essentially, when you leave public service, your name, your face, your voice can't show up back at the legislature for a one-year period."

Williams will start his new job in January after his current term expires.

Carson said she expects that Williams and the CEA will adhere to state law. "I think that clearly the CEA and he are sensitive to it because they came to us and sought advice not once but twice to make sure they very clearly understood what the lines are."

CEA Executive Director Mark Waxenberg said in an emailed comment: "We have requirements from state ethics officials and we will abide by them."